Is it ok to spank your dog?

from what you described you did fine, You didnt beat your dog, choke your dog, kick your dog in the face. I find it silly that people get thier panties in a twist because someone tapped or scowled at thier dog. In a situation where my dog might be in danger or put someone-something in danger I will grab thier collar, scruff, or tap thier nose. This rarely happens and Ive raised 4 dogs in my life, these dogs were exclusivly raised and trained by me. Our relationship is very tight, they trust me, I trust them and my oldest lived to be 18 and died in my arms as I hugged cryed at the many memories we shared.

My point is, if in the situation you must gently use physicle touch, then do so. Dogs are not butterflys and wont fracture if you look at them wrong. I use clicker training and toys and treats and excercise my dogs everyday. Im not new to dog training but i am far from an expert.

Take a dogs personality, past and situation into consideration with any training method or approach. Good luck and remeber people will criticze everything you do or say. Do what you feel is right and  remeber your dog will try its best to do as you ask and act as your partner, try to be clear, patient and thankful of your dog.

<3

Id like to add the only thing you did wrong was the timing, if she sat when you asked then you tapped her, then bascially you tapped her for sitting which would be mixed messages. When you do find yourself in a position to grab thier collar or tap them dont mix it with a command. My dogs dont fear me( I know fear signals and stress signals) and they go EVERYWHERE with me and do enjoy it as do I.

Ive had someone ignorantly yell at me when I grabbed Proofs collar once, swearing i was abusing him and had no place owning dogs. I told her "you should probably go home walk your fat dog and possible cut thier nails because causing him to walk in pain is far more abusive than me walking with proof and taking him to my friends house with me" I dont take peoples ignorant comments on me and my dogs relationship well, I spend alot of time with them and they are what makes my world go round. To see her dog in a mess and unhealthy just did it in for me. She was a old know-all nieghbor. :)

ADog'sBestFriend

 I usually just whack 'em on the muzzle

Really? A whack sounds mean.

See, scruffing isn't something I'm willing to do.  I always want my dogs to know that my hands are never going to harm them.

And hitting on the muzzle? 

ADog'sBestFriend

 I usually just whack 'em on the muzzle not very hard at all and say no. It doesn't hurt them yet they know they've done wrong.

Really?  And you call yourself ADog'sBestFriend? Hmph...

ADog'sBestFriend

 I usually just whack 'em on the muzzle not very hard at all and say no. It doesn't hurt them yet they know they've done wrong.

Spanking does hurt, and the only way a dog knows what to do is if it is sufficiently trained.  If you think you have to spank a dog, you need help learning how to train. 

For those of you who gave nice advice thank you. I came on here to learn things and to become a better dog owner.

 For those of you who say things like 'Ugh' and 'Umph' and are rude and sarcastic, whats the point in replying? Really you make me so mad!!! Are you trying to scare people away? Geez.

 And whoever said they dont like the work 'spank' really was that post even needed? Who cares if you like the word or not.

For the record, I would use spanking with my children (if I ever have any), I was brought up in a strict english boarding school and in a strict swiss boarding school. I left school in 2004 and until then had always been punished physically. his is completely legal and certainly helped me to learn disciplin etc. I guess this is another reason I didn't think anything of it with the dogs. I do realise now however, that sometimes it does not really have a purpose with the dogs...

 Thanks to the patient kind people who really are trying to help others

Sorry, I do find it difficult to be "kind" to people who hit their dogs.  You came here asking if it was right to do so, and you got our opinion - my opinion is NO, it isn't ok.  If you didn't want to hear how much it disgusts me that people do this, perhaps you should not have asked.  I deal with dogs every day that have decided, upon maturity, to bite the owners who "spanked" them when they were puppies and adolescents.  Guess what happens to many of those dogs?  They die.  So, I'm not at all sorry to have used a mild "Ugh" when what I really wanted to say was far more inflammatory.  Pfft

hayley018

For those of you who gave nice advice thank you. I came on here to learn things and to become a better dog owner.

I applaud you for your efforts to become a better dog owner.  I understand how you might feel a bit ticked off by some of the responses. Don't let it stop you from asking questions in the future. 

 You might enjoy reading a book called 'Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor.  It's a great book to get an understanding of how reinforcement training works in dogs and people.  Many times we accept certain methods of training and teaching because we don't realize exactly what we are "teaching". 

Cita

Ditto to Jackie! Also, Hayley, think of people's responses on this board as types of training behavior ;) Some people let their frustrations get the better of them, and they resort to verbal "spanking." IMO, the "spanking" is not the best method to get someone to change their behavior, because then the spank-ee feels defensive AND are less likely to want to listen to the person doing the spanking! IMO it's the same with dogs!

lol you're a genius :)

Jewlieee

 

Cita

Ditto to Jackie! Also, Hayley, think of people's responses on this board as types of training behavior ;) Some people let their frustrations get the better of them, and they resort to verbal "spanking." IMO, the "spanking" is not the best method to get someone to change their behavior, because then the spank-ee feels defensive AND are less likely to want to listen to the person doing the spanking! IMO it's the same with dogs!

lol you're a genius :)

She is a genius and said it so well. 

hayley018

For those of you who gave nice advice thank you. I came on here to learn things and to become a better dog owner.

 For those of you who say things like 'Ugh' and 'Umph' and are rude and sarcastic, whats the point in replying? Really you make me so mad!!! Are you trying to scare people away? Geez.

Hayley018-  

This is the internet, and it can be quite abrupt until you get used to it.  You don't get the facial expression or tone of voice to modify statements like you do face to face.  This forum is actually one of the restrained forums.  These people will offer you advice and friendship if you want it. I have had my head handed to me on a platter several times in arguments that got heated, usually on other forums.  This forum will argue well, using facts, experience, and logic to convince others.  They rarely resort to name calling or threats of physical violence.  They will not tolerate animal abuse, in any form.  People have differing perceptions of what is abusive treatment of animals.  I  personally do not think you were being abusive with your dog, just using an ineffective training technique.

If you hang in here, you can get a lot of good help. Pictures of your pets are not mandatory, but are really liked. (That's a hint)

IMO the only time it is appropriate to hit a dog is if you are being attacked.

I am very ashamed of this but I did smack Riley on his bum one time. It won't ever happen again. I was upset, and I chose to act like an immature idiot when I caught him eating my food. I felt like the worst person in the world after, and I started crying because I was so ashamed and angry at myself. No one should be hitting anyone - human or dog.

Now, I will lightly tap him when he's having fun, as in "oh, you're such a good boy! *tap on the bum*". It's more like petting. But you should never use physical means to punish a dog. A person's relationship with their dog should be one of trust and kindness on the human's part - and spanking definitely does not fit into those characteristics.

Now, I do not want you to feel terrible or anything - but please just think - you probably would give another person hell if they spanked your dog. Why is it okay if you do it?

BTW, I know this is a sensitive subject - so it's great that you brought it up and asked honestly about it.

Ive lightly scruffed, tapped and body blocked my dogs a few times over the past 19 years Ive had my 4. They dont fear my hands, they are trained very well, they make me proud and are so darn smart.

My dogs go everywhere with me, If i go to a friends they bike, walk or jog there with me. We go to the store, we go to my familys houses, get mail, head to the bar ( I only drink one mixed drink lol). If dogs arent allowed I dont go, except work obviously. They are not stay at home dogs, we come across cats, people, dogs, cars so on and so forth. There have been just a few times Ive had to scruff just to save a cats life and I remeber grabbing Kuniva by his scruff bc a car came veering our way. Not detrimental, maybe those who will never use physicle touch to stop thier dog are people who have stay at home dogs?

Im sure I could accomplish what I have in my dogs without ever touching thier scruff but I might have had to sacrifice a cat or a dog getting creamed on the road.

I think its awesome how alot of you will never scruff or tap your dogs!!! Thats great and you guys are great but I have done what works for me and keeps my dogs safe confident and happy. I DO NOT believe in BEATING your dog, but the original poster didnt seem to be doing that at all, they may have gotten snappy now but some where kind of hard on her choice. We must except differences in others dogs daily lives but we should definitly educate when possible!

<3